Well, another Friday has come around, and while there’s “only” one event on my calendar this weekend (Nathan Kotecki and PT McHugh at Quail Ridge Books on Saturday at 3 pm) there’s some other things to report as well:

James Maxey is interviewed on Gail Z. Martin’s Ghost in the Machine Podcast

Maxey’s first Dragon Age novel, Bitterwood, is now out in audiobook format

There’s a new monthly sf reading and discussion group starting up, to be held every third Thursday of the month at Raleigh’s NC Museum of Science, led by Kate Maddalena. (More info below.)

Also newly announced is a UNC-TV pledge drive volunteer opportunity, as part of a ConTemporal group to also promote this summer’s convention. (More info below.)

Onto the upcoming events!

March 9 (Saturday) 3 to 4 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts: “Two NC authors share their visions of the strange with us on Saturday, March 9, at 3 p.m. Nathan Kotecki brings us The Suburban Strange. Celia discovers girls at Suburban High are having near fatal accidents on the eve of their 16th birthdays. Can 15-year-old Celia solve the mystery before her own next birthday? For ages 14+. PT McHugh presents Keeper of the Black Stones: Stone Ends, the first book in a new series. It’s a thrilling combination of fantasy and historical fiction with a likable, funny hero in Jason Evans. For ages 12+.” More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/301390523317829/

March 21 (Thursday) 7:30 pm — Interest meeting for a new monthly sf reading and discussion group, run by Kate Maddalena at Raleigh’s NC Museum of Science, to be held every third Thursday. PDF flier with more info: http://bit.ly/161TWtK

March 22 (Friday) 7 pm — B&N of Cary hosts Hugo Award winning Pittsboro graphic novelist Ursula Vernon for book #8 in her Danny Dragonbreath series of graphic novels for young readers, “Nightmare of the Iguana”. More info: http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/4231658

March 23 (Saturday) 6:15 pm to 11:30 pm — ConTemporal 2013 will be promoted live on UNC-TV as part of taking phone calls for a UNC-TV pledge drive. “We will be taking pledges live on TV from UNC TV viewers. Please come dressed to show off your best Steampunk costuming! Costuming is not required but strongly encouraged. Why: UNC TV will be promoting ConTemporal 2013 live on air as part of this event. We must have a minimum of 20 volunteers to qualify for promotion. Please invite your friends, family and anyone interested in Steampunk and ConTemporal.” Training for volunteers begins promptly at 6:30, at 10 T.W. Alexander Drive in Durham. More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/533874939997393/?ref=3

Next Event

April 6 (Monday) 6:30 pm -- The Orange County Public Library’s First Monday Classics series discusses Orwell’s 1984.

Upcoming Event

April 24 (Friday) 7 pm -- The SFWA Southeast Reading Series presents a panel on science fiction and technology with authors Mark Van Name, Mur Lafferty, Richard Dansky, Jay Posey, Justin Achilli, and (via Skype) Tiffany Trent, moderated by M. David Blake, hosted by Duke University’s David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library at The Edge, on the first floor of Duke University’s Bostock Library. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.